USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The early records of the town of Providence, Vol. III, 1600s > Part 3
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The men chosen to levie the abovesaid Rate, are Thomas Olney Senior, William Carpenter, Thomas Harris Senior, Thomas Hopkins, John Browne, Valentine Whittman, John Smith miller, James Ashton, These men, or the major part of them agreeing shall be Authentick ; /
Jt is ordred that those men Who are chosen to Levy the abovesaid Rate shall take care to tranceport unto the Island so much of the said Rate as is to be Transported thether, and to order for the satisfieng of the Carriage. /
Ordred the abovesaid men shall have foureteene days time from this day to Efect theire Matter, comited unto them.
Jt is ordred that the Clarke shall Record the sale of a per- cell of Land which John Steere bought of George palmer : /
Att A Towne Meeting, november the 13th. 1662 Tho: Olney Senior Moderator :
ffor asmuch as Thomas Arnold hath this day desired of this Towne that they Would graunt unto him a small parcell of Land, to the Value of Eight poles, Lieing at the south End of his howse Lott, (of that Lott which was granted him from the Towne) and Lieing before his house door, and to have it in
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Lue of What his said Lott Wanted of being ffive acres; Jt is ordred that the matter shall be left unto the Towne deputyes, if they shall judge it may be laid out unto him Without prej- udice unto high Ways cither for Carting, or for Way to the River, or for foote way, With these provisos it is graunted : /
Ordred that Edward Smith shall have a noate from the Towne under the Clark's hand unto the Treasurer to demaund of him 205: at peauge 8 } penney for his yeares service being Serjant,
ordred that Thomas Olney Sen' shall send to the Island unto the president, to know how matters are to be managed about or Rate : /
A Copie of A note sent to the Treasurer, as ffolloweth
To m' John Sailes Treasurer
You are ordred by the Towne (in Case you have money in yo' handes, besides What, Andrew Harris, John ffenner and Daniell Browne paid in for purchase money to
[1] pay unto Edward Smith 205: at peauge Eight } penny to discharge him for his yeares Serjant Shipp.
Novemb': the i3th 1662
B me Tho: Olney jun" Town Clarke; in the behalfe of the Town
Att A Towne meeting November the 26 j662: Tho : Olney Senior Moderator
Ordred that the Constable, or Constables of this Towne doe forthwith give notice unto Every inhabetant, how much every
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₱ticular inhabetates part is to pay of a Rate Lately for M' Clarke, and also to informe them the manner of the pay as it is to be paid in, and also the prizes of Every ticular as they are to pay the said Rate in. /
It is ordred that m' ffeild shall receive all the porke, Beife, and flowre of the inhabetantes of this Towne, and shall pack up the said, porke, Beife, and fflowre; and that Every inhabetant shall provide salt to salt up his ₱ticular portion of meate as he shall bring in; which is to say all the Beife, porke, and flowre that shall be paid in; to the paieing of the Rate which is Leavied to pay the money which m' Clarke borrowed in Eng- land.
Ordred that Thomas Harris Senior be joyned with m' ffeild in the receiveing in, and packing the Beife, porke, and flowre as aforesaid.
Forasmuch as there is a Ladd named Daniell Coomstock, who hath for som tyme benn resident with Tho: Walling, (Who lately lived in this Towne of Providence) But the said Tho: Walling being now departed the Towne; Mary Walling (Wife [ ]nto the said Thomas Walling) having made her ad- dresse unto the Towne, humbly desireing of them to take som Course with the said Ladd, Daniell for the bringing of him up, shee the said Mary not being able any Longer to take care of him: as also the said Mary Walling having againe at this Court preferred a bill concerning the said Ladd, unto the same pur- pose as aforsaid; Jt is therefore ordred by this p'sant Court,
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that the Towne shall from this day take care of the said Ladd for the bringing of him up :
The Towne hath put the abovenamed Daniell Comstock to William Carpenter, to be an Apprentice, untill the said Ladd be Twentye and one yeares of Age : /
Att A Towne Meetting, (or quarter Court) Januarey the 27, j662 Tho: Olney Senior Moderator
Ordred that George Way shall have Libertye to alter the form of his sixteene acres of Land ;
Ordred that 6 men shall be chosen to receive in all acountes of disburstmentes of moneyes concerning the Townes Landes and pautuxettes ; and that the said Comitte shall meete to- gether upon the 28 day of ffeburarey next; and then for those who have disbursted money to bring in theire acountes unto the comitte;
The 6. men who are chosen for the aforsaid Comitte, are Roger Williams, William. Carpenter, Zacariah Roades, Arthur ffenner, John Browne, James Ashton / :
Att A Towne meeting ffeburarey the 28: 1662 Tho: Olney Senior Moderator
Chosen for Grand jurie men to attend the Court of Trials to be held at providence the 2nd Tuesday of March next ensu- ing, are, Richard Waterman, Thomas Harris Senior, Thomas Olney junior; ffor the pettie jurie John Sheldon, James Ash- ton Resolved Waterman.
5
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[2] ordred that the Clarke shall deliver up the accounts unto William Harris: Which William Harris fformerly de- liver'd unto the Towne, which concerne what he hath Received in and disbursted to the Indians concerning Landes ; And for the said accountes to be for the comittes use who are to meet concerning o' inland Buissenesse: /
Att A quarter Court, Aprill the 27th j663 Thomas Olney Senior Moderator
Edward Smith of providence, hath this day declared his in- tention of marriage with Anphilis Angell, it being the first time of their publishing,
The Age of Daniell Comstock, (whome the Towne hath put apprentis unto William Carpenter of pautuxett) is the next May Ensueing, Eight yeares of Age. Dilligent inquierie hav- ing been made concerning his Age, and it is so found.
ffor as much as Thomas Walling fformerly inhabetant of the Towne of providence, having departed this Towne & left his wife, and a child in the Towne. The Towne being doubtful of the returne of the said Thomas Walling to take Care of his said wife, and child for theire Releife,
Jt is therefore ordred by this presant Assembly that the Town shall seaze, and secure, and doe now seaze and secure into their hands all the Estate of the Said Thomas Walling which is now left in this Towne, or within the limittes or lib- ertyes of this Town, wheither it be Landes, goodes, howseing,
2
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or Cattell : wid that the said Estate seized on, is secured for the releife of the wife and child of The said Thomas Walling : And that mary Walling the wife of the Said Thomas Walling, shall not sell nor any ways make away the said Estate, nor any part thereof, without the approbation of this Towne;
George Shepard of the Towne of providence in New Eng- land came this day into this Court, And hath ffreely given unto the Towne of providence, all the Right, Jntrest, and title that he hath in all the Landes lieing betweene the River of Pawtuckett, and the River of pautuxett ; begining at the End of seven miles upon A west line from the hill, called ffoxes hill and so up the Streames of those Rivers unto the End of twenty ffull miles from the aforsaid ffoxes hill. All the aforesaid Right, Jntrest, and Title hath the said George Shepard given ffreely unto the aforsaid Towne of providence, to this purpose, that the said Right shall be for the maintaining of the Towne Bridge at Waybossett; And that the said George Shepard hath upon the Donation thereof enjoined the said Towne, not to convert the said Right, nor any part thereof unto any other use, Saving only abou the said Bridge.
Jt is ordred that A prohibition be ffixed upon som public place, to forbid any person for Buyeing, or Bargaining for (with the wife of Thomas Walling) any of the said Thomas Walling his Estate which is within the Libertis of this Town, unlesse it be with the approbation of the Town: And that the Towne clarke his hand shall be annexed unto the said prohibi- tion : /
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A Copie Whereof is as ffolloweth.
ffor as much as Thomas Walling, fformerly inhabitant of this Towne of providence; hath departed this Town, The Towne being doubtfull of his return to take care for the Re- leife of his Wife, and child which he hath left in this Towne : [3] This is to signiffie unto all persons, that the Town hath seized into their handes, and Secured, all the estate of the said Thomas Walling (which is within the Liberties of this Towne of providence) ffor the releife of the Wife and Child of the said Thomas Walling ;
And doe by the Authoritye of this presant Court, forbid any person or persons What soever the Buyeing, or Bargaining ffor; any of the said Estate : with the wife of the said Thomas Walling; wheither it be Lands, goodes, or Cattell; without it be with the aprobation of the aforsaid Towne of Providence,
Att A Quarter Court Aprill the 27th i663
₱ the Towne
Tho: Olney jun':
Towne Clarke
Att A Towne Meetting, May the 9th j663: Thomas Olney Senior Modderator;
Chosen for Comissioners, to serve at A Court of Commission- ers to be held at providence for the Collonie, the 12 of this in- stant and also to sitt at the Court of Election, Which is to be the first Tuesday after the i5th of this instant ; ) are m' william
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ffield, Thomas Olney Sen", William Carpenter, Thomas Harris Sen', Arthur ffenner, James Ashton.
Edward Smith hath this day declared his intention of Mar- riage with Anphilis Angell ; it being the second Time of pub- lishing : /
Jt is ordred by this p'sant Assembly, that 100 Acrs of upland, and 6 Acres of Meaddow, or low land | to | the quan[ ]tye of Eight acres in lew of meaddow shall be Laide out within the boundes of this Towne of Providence; The which land, shall be reserved for the maintenance of A Scoole in this Towne. /
And that after the said Land is Laid out, and the bounds thereof sett; it shall be Recorded in o' Towne Record accord- ing unto the boundes ffixed, and shall be called by the name of the Scoole Landes of Providence : /
Att A Court of Election the first munday in June j663, it being the first day of the Month Tho : Olney Sen" : moderat":
Thomas Olney junior, Towne Clarke, Chosen) Thomas Harris Senior, John Browne, Towne Deputies John Steere Towne Serjant
Tho : Olney Senior is chosen Towne Treasurer but his en- gaging is suspended until some advice and warning.
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[4] Chosen to add unto the officers to make up the Towne Council, m' Roger Williams, Tho : Olney Sen' : Arthur ffenner, Epenetus Olney, Nathaniell Waterman Sirveiours : 1
Ordred that the Bond bearing date the 7th of december j663, signed, and sealed by Edward Jnman, and Tho : Hopkins and delivered unto the Towne for theire Securitye from any charge that they might Expend for the releife of Johanna Harrud ; (Tho : Hopkins having desired the saide Bond to be returned unto him,) it shall be returned unto the said Tho: Hopkins ; by the Towne Clarke ;
The Towne Clarke hath in the presence of this Court de- livered up the aforsaid Bond unto the said Tho : Hopkins.
ffor as much as George way hath desired of the Towne A small percell of Land, it being low swampie Land, Lieing neer unto the East part of the meadow of Stephen Northup, be- tweene the West river, and the river of moshausuck; his de- sire is granted, provided, it Exceede not one acre and a halfe ; The which land shall be bounded by the Towne deputyes; pro- vided also, it be not som other bodies Land : /
ffor as much as Tho: Harris Sen': is chosen Towne dep- utye, and is not here to take his ingagement ; it is ordred that the Clarke shall take some tyme to ingage him ; and allso Zac- ariah Roades Who is chosen Cunstable ; hee also not being at hand to take his ingagement ; and in case any of them refuse to take Theire ingagment, Then for the Clarke to informe the Towne thereof
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ffor as much as Mary Walling hath desired of the Towne that shee might have libertye to sell the Right of Land which belonged vnto her husband; at Wayunckkeeake; and also a Cow : the matter is left unto the Towne deputyes to take order about it. /
Att A Towne Meeting June the 18th i663 John Browne Modderator :
The Gennerall Court orders made at A Court of Commis- sioners called upon May the 12º i663 : Was this day read :
Chosen for jury men for this Towne, to try Cases in the Towne, are Roger Mawrey, John Whiple sen' Edward Jnman : Henry Browne, James Ashton Edward Smith : /
Tho: Harris Sent: hath in the p'sence of This Court, taken his ingagment, for Towne Deputy : /
Att A Towne Meetting July the 3ª j663 : Tho : Olney Senior Moderator
Jt is ordred by this presant Assembly mr Roger Williams, Arthur ffenner, John Browne, and James Ashton, shall upon the Last day of Agust next Ensuing meete with 4 of pautux- ett men : who pautuxett men shall Chuse out amongst them- selves: [5] and those Eight men to take into consideration, and ordring of the manner of the paieing of what monies hath .been disbursted to the confirmation of the Townes Landes, and pautuxetts : That is, what part pautuxett men shall pay of the said monie, and what part the Towne of Providence shall pay: And also order what Every mans part shall be to pay upon
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a purchase Right: And to meete upon the aforspecified day, at the howse of Roger Williams: But in Case the day men- tioned fall upon the ffirst day of the Weeke, then to meete upon the next day ffollowing : /
Vpon the request of William Haukins, & John Steere, Jt is ordred tha[ ] the said William Haukins, & John Steere shall have libertie to chuse ffifty akers of upland a peece at Wayunc- keake, & that they shall have it for theire owne Right; pro- vided that the said William Haukins & John Steere shall this Summer goe thither, cutt hay, & build howsen there and doe also goe thither this winter Ensueing, to inhabitt, possessing the said Land by dwelling upon it for the full terme of 3 yeares ; & not to sell the said land so possessed nor any part there of to any person without this Townes consent ; nor to remove from the said placae without the knowledg and consent · of this Towne: And that the said Land shall be laid out in a square, and not so to leave a Vacancie betweene their portions as shall be less then 4 poles : But after the 3 years injoyment as aforsaid, it shall be in theire libertye to make theire best use of it, Either by sale or otherwise: And if above ffity akers, upon devision be alotted to Every purchaser: then the afor- named men shall take what more is theire Rights acording as it shall fall unto them by papers: /
Where as Continuall complaint is made unto this Towne by severall persons of the great abuse of selling liquors to the Jn- dians, the said abuse being so notorious, that not only #ticular persons are indangered but the Town in Gennerall ; The sell- ers there of being so wicked and notorious for the said fact, that they deserve to be Branded with the name of Jaackes
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cleansers for which abuse we are necessettated to take this Course, & Establish this for a law Strictly to be observed in this Towne of providence, that the testimonie of an Indian, curcumstances agreeing With the said testimoney sufficient to convince the deputy, or deputies of this Towne, or substantiall circumstances of it selfe concerning the selling of Liquors to the Indians, shall be sufficient for the Deputies of this Towne to Exact the pennaltie of the law made against selling of Liquors to the Indians at a Gennerall Court held at provi- dence May the 17 i659: in the strictnesse of it & no mittega- tion thereof upon such as ofend therein : And that halfe of the fine shall goe to the Jnformer, & the Cunstable, and his aid and the other halfe thereof to the Treasurey of this Towne: And that the deputie, or deputies of this Towne being sufficiently convinced as aforsaid, of the party, or partyes so selling, they, or Either of them shall imediatly send theire warrant to the Cunstable, or cunstables of this Towne to seize upon the goodes of the partie or parties so ofending to the value of the fine propounded in the law against selling Liquors to the Indians as aforsaid, And that the said Cunstable shall after he hath seized the said goodes, and prized it by Two honest neigh- bours, deliver the said seizer unto the deputies of this Towne, for him to deliver the one halfe unto the informer, & the Cun- stable & his aide, & the other halfe into the Treasurey of this Towne as aforsaid: And this order to be in force, begining upon the 5 day of this Instant : /
ordred the Clarke sett up 3 Copies of this abouesaid Law upon som publique places of this Towne, setting his hand unto them in the behalf of the Towne : /
6
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Att a Towne meeting July the 27: 1663 Tho: Olney Senior Modderatt : /
[6] Att A Towne meetting September the 28 : i663 Thomas Olney Sen' : Moderat' :
ffor as much as Joshua Vering of Barbados; formerly of this Towne; hath sent unto William Harris to demaund of this Towne, in his behalfe; a Right of Land: The said Wil- liam Harris having this day demaunded the same of the Town : The answere of the Towne unto the said William Harris is, That they doe owne that the said Joshua Vering has a Right : And what he can make apeare to be yet in his handes, not be- ing passed away by sale unto any other he may haue it laid out unto him; paing all dues which belong there unto: /
Chosen for Comissioners to serve at portsmouth at a Court of Comissioners to be held the 14th of octobr next Ensuing are William ffield, Will Carpenter, Zacariah Roades, Will Harris, Jo" : ffield, Tho : Clemence :
Chosen for jury men to serve at portsmouth the second Tuesday in octobr : next Ensueing, are Will Carpenter Zac- ariah Roades, Tho : Clemence :
ffor as much as John Smith (Mason) hath desired of this Towne to change six akers and a halfe of Land lieing in the neck, over against the East End of the howse lott which for- merly belonged unto John Clawson it lieing betweene the said howse lott formerly belonging unto the said John Clawson, and the great Swampe; to change the same for a ffive aker lott
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which was by will of this Towne Councell given unto the Two sones of Samuell Comstock (deceased) formerly inhabetant of this Towne; The said John Smith desiring the Exchange with this proviso : that in Case the aforsaid two sons of Samuell Comstock when they Com to age doe asent unto the said Ex- change; then for the said John Smith to injoy the aforsaid ffive akers of Land; and the two youthes the said six akers, and halfe of Land, aforspeciffied: But in Case the said youthes when they Come to age doe aprehend they are damniffied by the said Exchange: Then for the said John Smith to Resine up the said ffive akers of Land unto the said youthes ; And the said John Smith to receive the aforsaid six akers and halfe of Land againe; with this provizo: the said Exchange is graunted by the Towne : ,
Ordred that George Way shall be Serjant in the Absence of John Steere: / vntill this yeare be Ended; /
Ordred that the Bill put in by Valentine Whittman concern- ing Swine is Refferred unto the next Court : /
Att a Towne meetting October the 12th: 1663 Tho : Olney Sen' Modderat":
ffor as much as Grigorey Dexter hath put up A Bill this day uto the Towne desiring satisfaction for a high way which is made Through his meadow: The Towne hath ordred that they shall chuse one man, and Grigorey Dexter to chuse an- other, and as those two men doe agree so for to stand; The man whome the Towne hath chosen is Thomas Harris Sen".
[7] Jt is ordred that the Towne Deputies shall goe unto all the Jnhabetantes belonging unto this Town to see what will
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be ffreely Contrebuted towardes the releife of William Bur- rowes: And if a considerable sum cannot be granted in that way : for them then to make Report unto the Towne; and for the Towne to levie a rate upon the inhabetanc for the releife of the said William Burrowes : /
Att A Quarter Court October the 27th: i663: Tho: Olney Sen' : Modderator : /
John Whiple Junior hath this day declared his intention of Marriage with Mary Olney; it being the first tyme of pub- lishing :
Ordred that Stephen Arnold shall have notice from William ffield ; and Tho: Harris that he take the Barrill of porke which he left at William ffieldes towardes his last rate, againe into his custodye it not being Merchantable when he brought it in :
Jt is also ordred that William ffield, and Thomas Harris Senior shall search all the provisions which people | have | brought in towardes the last rate and see what condition it is in, and to bring in theire report to the Towne the next Towne Meeting : /
Att a Towne meetting October the 3i: i663 : Thomas Olney Sen': Moderat":
John Whiple Jun': hath this day declared his intention of Mariage with Mary Olney it being the Second tyme of pub- lishing : /
ordred that a rate of 36 poundes be levied upon the Jnhabi- tance of this Towne to discharge for m' Clarke in England :
1
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ordred that 6 men be chosen to levie the abovesaid rate
The men chosen to levie the abovesaid rate are Thomas Olney Sen'; Tho: Harris Senior, William Carpenter, Thomas Arnold, John Browne, James Ashton, and that these men meet- ting together, they or the Major part of them meeting and agreeing to sarve
ordred that the men aforspeciffied shall meete together and ffinish the said worke within Tenn dayes from the date hereof
Ordred that the said Rate shall be paid in porke at 288 ₺ hundred; wheate at 45 6d & Bushell : pease at 35 6d & bushell, Butter at six pence ₺ pound :
Ordred that the Cunstable of this Towne by order from the deputie, or Deputies shall imediatly after the aforsaid rate is levied informe all the inhabetanc what the part of Each is to pay, and give them notice to pay it in within 14 dayes after no- tice is given : but in Case any doe refuse to pay ; and will not pay theire money nor give securety under theire handes: for the payment there of, betweene the day of the date hereof, and the 29 of September next Ensuing; then for the Cunstable to returne the names of those persons unto the General Assistant, and for the assistant to send unto the Gen"! Serjeant [8] to com and distraine upon theire Estates : /
ordred that if any person will give in securetye for the paym': of his Rate, it shall be to one of the 12 men who have proffered them selves to be surties unto william Harris for the payment of the Townes money : /
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ordred that people pay in the aforsaid Rate unto William ffield :
Jt is ordred that the former Rate, the remainder there of be imedeatly gathered up: and in Case any person Refuse to pay then for the Cunstable to returne there names unto the Gen" !!: Assistant, and the assistant to send for the Genrll: Serjant, to distraine upon theire Estate
Att A Towne Meetting November the 18th : j663: Thomas Olney Sen' : Moderat":
The Comissioners apoynted to atend the Gen": Court of Comissioners at Newport the 24 of this Instant November ; are M' ffield, m' Roger Williams, William Carpenter, Zacariah Roades William Harris, Stephen Arnold ;
Jt is ordred that concerning that Warrant which Came from the president to send Soldiars to solomnize the recpt of the (Charter) that a letter be drawne up and sent to the Court of Comissioners to Excuse the not goeing
Jt is ordred that the 2 Towne deputie, and the Clarke shall draw up the letter of Excuse aforsaid and that the Clarke only subscribe it: /
ordred that the Towne meete againe upon this day Three weekes, to confferr, and order about Wayunkeake
Att A Towne meeting December the 23: j663:
William Wickenden of Providence hath this day declared his intention of Marriage with Elnor Sheringham, of new- port, on Roade Jland :
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Jt is agreed that the Towne send a noate unto m' Redock under the Towne Clarkes hand, to demaund of him ffifteene shillings, due unto William Burrrowes : / a Copie thereof is as ffolloweth,
M' Redock.
The Towne being making up all accountes Concerning William Burrowes : They find ffifteene shillinges to be due from you: They doe therefore hereby demaund the same sum desiring the speedy [9] payment thereof; which if the pay- ment be refused, the Towne must then be constrained to take a Course for the Recoverie there of : /
Decemb': the
23: 1663:
Yo' ffriendes and Neighbours the Jnhabetantes of the Towne of providence Tho: Olney Jun' Towne Clerk.
William Wickenden hath this day againe declared his inten- tion of mariage with Elnor Sheringham of Newport on Roade Jland : /
This meeting is adjorned unto the 30th day of this Instant month : /
The Towne being againe Come together the 30th day of December i663, acording to the adjornall Thomas Olney Sen' : Chosen Moderat".
Thomas Burden, and Mary Harris of pauchassett this day declared an intention of Marriage; it being first time of pub- lishing : /
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m' Roger Williams, and John Browne are apoynted goe to the Neighbours about the money due for Wyunckeake, and to receive it and give discharges,
Thomas Harris Sen': and John Browne are apoynted to lay out Land untill further order be taken about it : /
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